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Topic Review (Newest First)

10-28-2012 02:21 PM

SloopJonB

Re: Why so many unused boats?

Thread merger:

Re: I'm truly at a loss for words...REALLY!

10-28-2012 11:54 AM

floridajaxsailor

Re: Why so many unused boats?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ext222

With no intent to offend, it is a mistake that many seem to make that a boat is an investment like a house. It is not. Boats are like women, they may improve to a certain point, but at some point they begin to decline and only with massive amounts of capital infusion can they keep their looks, and even then, then new models out perform them. At that point, only those of us who remember them in their glory find them more attractive than the young ones.
Again, no intent to offend, I just disagree with your thinking on this.

10-27-2012 07:57 PM

hellosailor

Re: Why so many unused boats?

"I sail on a lake that is drained in Oct. and refilled in March"
Trust me, that is a reservoir, not a lake. Odds are one of the folks in charge of the program can't spell or pronounce fancy foreign words like "reservoir" but that's what it is.

10-27-2012 04:08 PM

ovb

Re: Why so many unused boats?

I sail on a lake that is drained in Oct. and refilled in March for flood control reasons and for the last 8 years there is a Lancer 28 that I have never seen sailed or any one aboard or any sign of use it appears in April and is gone in late Sep.....this year it never even had its boom attached....the boat is not neglected and looks to be in a good state of repair...

10-27-2012 02:49 PM

SloopJonB

Re: Why so many unused boats?

Quote:

Originally Posted by biology

I guess the point is that we get paid for our time... because it's our time that's valuable. In a given life there's only a certain amount of time available. Getting paid is basically selling part of your life.

So what's more important? The money you make, or the time you keep?
And I think that goes for everything... time with our kids, with our loved ones, or just by ourselves... spending time outside in the fall while all the leaves are changing... staying up way late so we can check out the latest meteor shower.. or on the water sailing...

Don't get me wrong... we need to work and make money to provide a life. Just need to keep that balance in mind.

The old Harry Chapin song "Cats in the cradle" is a very good lesson about that.

10-27-2012 02:29 PM

smurphny

Re: Why so many unused boats?

When I go out, it's usually for a couple of months until I get my salt water fix and then I'll just haul out and block her up rather than have to worry about storms, mooring failure, leaks, etc. When a boat's in the water, it needs constant attention, a lot of time, and worry. I'm sure people who see my boat on the hard think it doesn't get used when it actually gets more sailing time than the boats that bob around at the dock all summer. I suspect this is the case with a number of sailboats. There seem to be two distinct types of boaters: cruisers and dock sitters. They have different objectives.

10-27-2012 01:09 PM

L124C

Re: Why so many unused boats?

Quote:

Originally Posted by biology

Short on money, long on time.
-or-
Long on money, short on time.
If you have a huge boat with lots of expenses you have to work more to afford it, which leaves less time to enjoy it.

Unless you are Larry Ellison! Say what you want about the man and his ego...but he is "self made", has lots of BIG boats and uses them regularly! He also has passion for sailing and is doing a lot to promote the sport. Slightly off topic, but I couldn't resist.

10-26-2012 09:41 PM

biology

Re: Why so many unused boats?

I guess the point is that we get paid for our time... because it's our time that's valuable. In a given life there's only a certain amount of time available. Getting paid is basically selling part of your life.

So what's more important? The money you make, or the time you keep?
And I think that goes for everything... time with our kids, with our loved ones, or just by ourselves... spending time outside in the fall while all the leaves are changing... staying up way late so we can check out the latest meteor shower.. or on the water sailing...

Don't get me wrong... we need to work and make money to provide a life. Just need to keep that balance in mind.

10-26-2012 10:02 AM

ctl411

Re: Why so many unused boats?

Yes, just like boats all thing in life are a compromise. I work at a small shop (cnc machinist) extra hours Monday- Thursday out early Friday. I could make more money in tool and die but those guys work crazy hour plus it's feast or famine. I'll be out sailing in a couple more hours. Doesn't hurt the boss/owner is a sailor sold my old 30 to him a few years back.

10-26-2012 09:51 AM

Sal Paradise

Re: Why so many unused boats?

I thought I'd just add a little to the point of guys working the days away while their boat sits in a slip. I remember being a boy on my grandfather's boat after he retired. He told me of all the days he had been stuck in his shop in Brooklyn staring out at the water and imagining his boat pulling on its dock lines. He said it was torture. Now I sit in my office nex to the Hudson River workingthe days away while my sailboat tugs at its dock lines as it moves in the breeze. And I know what he meant.

We use our boat once or twice a week. Its a struggle to do that with all we have to take care of.

Its a shame that we make our work hours like farmers or millworkers 100 years ago. In at 8 am and out at 4 pm. Monday through Friday. What a life! I'm a professional, and I would love to find something that would let me work flexible hours. I'd work every rainy day, nights , early mornings, whatever. If only I could get out when the weather was good. I asked my boss one time about this and he said that if he let me do that, others would get jealous and then discipline in the office would go down. What a load of crap. Just need the right people, the right attitude. If we could pull 12 hour days with no OT and be more productive and happy I bet we'd all make more money and have those extra days to sail more. Until then,or until I retire, my boat will sit in the dock 5 days a week, waiting, waiting......and I'll stare out the window at the water and wish I was there.

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